The government instead of hiring permanent Chief Education Officers (CEO’s) in the department has assigned the look-after charge of the posts to various eligible officers to fill the vacancy.The government orders available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reads that the five eligible officers were placed against vacant post of CEO’s and equivalent falling under Open Merit (OM) category on an officiating basis.“Several CEO posts and equivalent falling under various reserved categories in terms of reservation rules, could not be filled up on officiating capacity basis in view of the advisory from law department and General Administration Department (GAD) on the strength of Apex Court directions,” the order reads.Commissioner Secretary to the Government for School Education Department, Asgar Samoon has issued an order which states that these unfilled posts are of administrative nature and keeping these posts vacant would adversely affect the functioning of the department and implementation of various government schemes.“It has been considered appropriate to fill up these posts by assigning the charge without drawing and disbursing powers to officers from feeding service in order of seniority and eligibility,” reads the order.The order further reads that in view of administrative exigencies, it is hereby ordered that five officers shall work as look-after CEO’s and equivalent till the posts are filled up on officiating or regular basis.“These officers shall report concerned Directorates of School Education till their suitable adjustments are made. However, officers shall not be entitled to charge allowances and arrangement is purely on temporary basis,” it states.Samoon said, “They shall not confer preferential right upon officers to claim seniority, placement, promotion or regularization which shall be done strictly as per extant rules and in order of seniority or availability of vacancy.”Earlier in the month of April Samoon said 70 percent posts of Zonal Education Officers (ZEO’s) and Head Masters were lying vacant in the school education department that was leading to mayhem in the department.“Almost 70 percent of ZEOs and HM posts of middle, high and higher secondary schools are vacant leading to adhocism and chaos. DSEK and DSEJ should post them and transfer all clerical staff beyond mature stay immediately to reduce corruption, ensure transparency and optimum functioning of the school education sector,” Samoon said.He said that a large section of higher secondary schools across Jammu and Kashmir were without principals and directed the directors of both the regions to deploy them immediately—(KNO)